Sixth Annual Sir Bani Yas Forum Concludes in Abu Dhabi

The sixth annual Sir Bani Yas Forum, organized by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), concluded Sunday 15th of November in Abu Dhabi.

The annual high-level retreat is the initiative of His Highness UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

The aim of the Forum is to create a space for action-oriented discussions among leading policy- and opinion-makers about critical issues relevant to peace and security in the Middle East.

The Forum, which ran from 13 to 15 November, featured debate and discussion around central challenges confronting regional and world powers in the Middle East. 

Through a combination of expert presentations and panel discussions, the sessions addressed the complex crises in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya, the role of international actors in resolving regional conflicts, challenges to building Palestinian state authority, and the implications of the nuclear agreement between the P5+1 and Iran for Iran’s foreign policy. 

Current and former foreign ministers from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia, as well as a select number of international policy experts, convened to share their knowledge and understanding. 

Reflecting on the proceedings of the Forum, former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said, “The setting of the conference is fantastic, but what it more important is the discussions. 

They are to the point and on some of the most important challenges the world faces today.”

Algerian Foreign Minister Lamtane Lamamra added, “This is a gathering of great minds helping to promote genuine solutions to complex problems.”

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the President of the International Crisis Group and a former French diplomat who was the UN’s Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping, said, “At a time when it is so important to think strategically, the conference provides a rare opportunity for thoughtful dialogue. 

The terrorist attacks in Paris are a tragic reminder of the need for a coherent and effective strategy against violent extremism: festering conflicts are its breeding ground, and it is high time to make the end of the Syrian conflict our top priority.”

The Forum also featured exclusive polling, conducted by Dr. James Zogby, which surveyed thousands of people across the Arab states, Turkey, and Iran on their attitudes toward key issues facing the Middle East. 

Topics covered through the polling include the region’s major ongoing conflicts, the threat posed by violent extremism, the P5+1 deal with Iran, and the Palestinian statehood project.

The Forum convened at the Qasr Al Sarab resort in the Liwa Desert of Abu Dhabi. 

As in past years, all proceedings were conducted under the Chatham House Rule of non-attribution; there were no prepared statements, no communiqués, and no reporting media.